I’m going to borrow an idea from my Philmont friend Dawn Chandler today, who wrote over the weekend of a book by Ross Gay that she loves called “The Book of Delights”. In it the author wrote about a different delight every day for a year. It opened him up to much more joy in his life even amidst the pain and fear that we all experience. I find that I like to do this too as I go through my day even though sometimes I have to make myself notice things that delight me. It is akin to object writing which I have also practiced to wake myself up to creativity in my writing and songs. Object writing is where you pick an object and write for 10 minutes about how it appeals to your senses. For instance, you take a pencil and write about how it looks, feels, smells, sounds, might taste, and how it makes you feel to use it. This exercise awakens your mind to creative words and phrases and ways of seeing. Seeing delight in your daily life can do this too. Without going down a rabbit hole you can appreciate how your computer keyboard clicks or how the texture of your shirt feels against your skin. It just takes you out of the race for a moment to appreciate the simple delights of your daily life. It can even be a simple memory that makes you smile. Just grab something in your life occasionally that gives you delight and lifts you up for an instant.
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What have I been up to?
I had 9 senior facilities last week, and it shouldn’t surprise you to hear that a few had Covid outbreaks. I guess I’ll stop writing about these outbreaks since they happen so frequently. With having to wear a mask I have committed to wearing glasses instead of contacts now since I need to tuck my mask underneath my glasses to keep it on when I sing. It is a definitely a new normal in our lives. I still love playing for these folks even when the situations are awkward or not ideal. I make the most of them to support the folks.
My Wednesday online show was doing songs from 50 years ago in 1974, and it was so much fun that we will do more of these songs this week. I had a much larger group come out than I expected, and the memories were really flowing.
My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and it was also well-attended and a blast. These nights just continue to outdo themselves with good vibes and good music.
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What am I up to this week?
I have 6 senior facilities this week, and I am looking forward to them all as always. I always have a few less on a fifth week of the month since most of my facilities are monthly-repeating gigs that fall in weeks 1-4.
My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be the songs of 1974 again as I wrote about above. There are just so many great songs from that year, and they are so much fun to play and reminisce about. Come on out and join in if you can!
On Saturday night 7-9 I’ll be doing an online show for my Philmont friends and acquaintances. If you’re one of these friends I’d love to have you tune in and join in the fun and friendship on my Tom Munch Philmont Songs Concert Facebook group. My Philmont friend Jason Mascitti is sponsoring me as an extension of his Thrivent business. He does financial planning for many Philmont folks, and it’s definitely a service we can all use. Check him out at connect.thrivent.com/Jason-mascitti.
My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and it’s usually a fine time of songs and camaraderie. Come on out!
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That’s it for this week. Coming up I’ll be doing my Sunday night show on February 11th at my friends Deann and Matt’s house as part of my Valentine’s Day music. I look forward to that! I’ve also just booked July 6th in La Veta for Art in the Park again. Fun times coming up! Hope you are well and happy.
Best always,
Tom
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Details this week:
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of 1974 songs AGAIN
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Wednesday, January 31, 7-8:45 pm mountain time
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of Philmont songs
Where: facebook.com/groups/1176893032692370 and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Saturday, February 3, 7-9 pm mountain time
Who: Tom Munch
What: playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests
Where: facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts
When: Sunday, February 4, 7-8:45 pm mountain time